Even as many parts of the district are experiencing acute drinking water scarcity, the quality of drinking water being supplied in tanker lorries by private agencies has raised concerns in the wake of media reports that contaminated water sources are being used for collecting water in other parts of the State.
While local bodies are supplying drinking water in areas experiencing severe drinking water shortage, the authorities are aware of the supply of water sourced from contaminated resources as potable water.
District Collector Rathan Kelkar on Wednesday directed officials to take stringent action against private individuals supplying water collected from contaminated sources.
Speaking at an emergency meeting convened at his chamber, the Collector said that action would be taken against unscrupulous individuals selling contaminated water at exorbitant prices. Legal action would be initiated against such persons under the Public Health Act and the Indian Penal Code, he said, adding that a joint squad of Revenue, Health and Police Departments would be tasked to conduct inspections of water sources being used by the water suppliers.
Referring to the proposal to introduce colour code for tanker lorries supplying drinking water, the Collector said that the tanks would be painted in light blue with ‘Drinking Water' written clearly on it. Owners of tanker lorries willing to supply drinking water should contact respective municipal secretaries. People may register their complaints about the quality of water supplied or other irregularities in water supply at 0497-2700645 and 2713266 if they find that the water is contaminated.
Labs at the offices of the Kerala Water Authority and the Pollution Control Board could be approached for testing water, the Collector said.
